Michael is
Killer Mike's first solo album in over a decade, after the politically charged
R.A.P. Music led to the formation of
Run the Jewels with producer/rapper
El-P, altering the trajectory of
Mike's music career and eventually returning him to the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 with 2020's
RTJ4. The 2023 effort is both an autobiographical reflection on his life's journey to this point as well as a musical homecoming, largely drawing from gospel, funk, soul, and '90s Dirty South rap. Haunting choral vocals and church organs call out beneath the booming beats and nimble bass guitars on songs like the confessional "Shed Tears" and empowering,
Last Poets-sampling "Nrich." Much of the album finds
Mike navigating through his numerous identities (hip-hop lifer, loyal churchgoer, family figure, social justice activist, property owner, businessman, wealthy celebrity), acknowledging his contradictions with the album's cover, a childhood portrait bearing both a halo and devil horns. "Talk'N That Shit!," co-produced by
Three 6 Mafia's
DJ Paul, addresses those who accuse
Mike of having "gone to sleep" and turning his back on his previous positions. While he brags about being a landlord on "Spaceship Views," he expresses empathy for the less advantaged on several other songs, most notably "Something for Junkies," in which he acknowledges the humanity of substance abusers. In particular, he refers to conversations with an aunt addicted to crack, who says that she knows he loves her because he treats her like a human being.
Mike mourns the loss of his mother and grandmother on the vulnerable, apologetic "Motherless." "Don't Let the Devil," the record's only song featuring co-production and a guest verse by
El-P, finds the two in boast-heavy
Run the Jewels mode as they criticize the church system. One of the album's most attention-grabbing tracks, "Scientists & Engineers," boasts a weightless yet robotic intro guest verse by
Andre 3000, followed by second-generation
Dungeon Family recruit
Future, then finally a lush choir backing
Mike's breathless triple-time rapping. Though
Michael can get overbearing at times, the production is generally stellar, and it's easily the rapper's most honest and emotional work. ~ Paul Simpson
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